A team of SDO Kangchup Geljang led by its Sub Divisional Officer, T Opendro Singh visited Kangchup Makhom for a spot inquiry of the blazing fire emitted underneath the soil since March 13.
The SDO Kangchup Geljang team was accompanied by members of the village authority, including the village chief and youths.
Located around 55 Km from the District Headquarters Kangpokpi and around 2 Km away from the village, the spot where the burning fire presumably to be biomass ignition, is a banana farm cultivated by two villagers of Kangchup Makhom.
The Banana farm belongs to Thangminlal Neishiel (53) and Doulam Touthang (70). The area of Thangminlal’s Banana farm is about 1 acre while Doulam’s Banana farm occupies an area of around 3 acres. Though Thangminlal Neishiel could not come to the spot, Doulam Touthang accompanied the visiting team.
When the visiting team reached the spot, the village chief and his companions along with the Doulam Touthang identified the spot where the blazing fire has been emitting since the past one week.
Owing to the scorching sunlight the burning flame could not be seen during the daytime, so, the village put some dry Banana leaves over the identified spot and within a second it began to burn which testify the emitting of the burning fire underneath the soil.
As seen in the videos taken by the villagers at night, the burning flame was clearly and visibly seen in a mixture of blue, yellow, and red colour.
After taking stock of the situation, SDO Kangchup Geljang, T Opendro Singh told the media persons that burning fire presumably to be biomass ignition has been emitting at various locations in the Banana farm at Kangchup Makhom village vicinity, and owing to it, a vast area of the Banana farm has also been affected.
He continued that he will forward the spot inquiry report to the higher authority and further necessary action shall be initiated at the earliest.
He also urged the villagers to not get apprehensive of the incident as it has come to the knowledge of the government and necessary steps would be initiated very soon.
Doulam Touthang, one of the owners/cultivators of the Banana farm said that the blazing fire emitting underneath the soil has been witnessed since March 13 and it continues till today causing an inferno in the Banana farm which had already destructed a vast area of my Banana farm.
He continued that I have planted more than 3000 Banana plants for the past 6/7 years which serve as the only source of our livelihood as we could easily earn more than 3 lakh annually.
“How would I survive my family when most of my Banana farm has been destructed by the blazing fire”, said a visibly emotional and helpless poor Doulam Touthang.
While expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the SDO Kangchup Geljang and his team for their sincere concern and care by visiting the spot and taking stock of the situation, the poor farmer apprised the SDO for appropriate compensation on the part of the Government.
Meanwhile, Jangkhokam Lotzem, chief of Kangchup Makhom also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the SDO Kangchup Geljang and his team on behalf of the villagers for the enthusiastic spot inquiry and urged the SDO and other authorities concerned for appropriate compensation to the affected farmers whose Banana farm, the only means of their livelihood have been largely damaged.
He also said that most of his villagers survive by cultivating Banana and Culantro, or long-leafed Coriander and it is very unfortunate to witness the destruction of their only means of livelihood.
The village authority of Kangchup Makhom had already restricted the entry of unauthorized persons or groups to the spot while cautioning that it [the village authority] would not be responsible for any untoward incident upon violators.
Meanwhile, a team of geologists from Trade, Commerce and Industry, Government of Manipur also visited the spot today.
The villagers also said that a team of ONGC and Geological Survey of India had also visited the spot yesterday while adding that they took samples for a laboratory test.
